EDDISBURY MP Stephen O'Brien has been promoted after his old boss Michael Howard became leader of the Conservative Party.

Mr O'Brien is leaving his position as Shadow Paymaster General to become Shadow Secretary of State for Industry in Howard's new front bench team.

He will work for the new Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin MP, a member of the leaner Shadow Cabinet, now made up of just 12 key team leaders.

Mr O'Brien, 45, said: 'I am absolutely delighted to have been promoted to the position of Shadow Secretary of State for Industry, in the Shadow Economics Team. Given my own background in manufacturing industry, I will apply my own experience in exposing the intense pressure Great Britain PLC is being put under with extra taxes, red tape and EU regulatory burdens by this failing Labour Government.'

He added: 'There is much work to be done and I am looking forward to developing and moving forward Conservative plans to release businesses in Eddisbury, Cheshire and the UK from Labour's red tape straight-jacket.'

The member for Eddisbury aims to 'expose the Government's failure to protect Britain's manufacturing industry' and promote Conservative policies on energy, communications, infrastructure, technology and the postal service. He also wants to 'restore public confidence' in the financial services industry.

He added: 'Nine thousand factory jobs across Britain are estimated to be lost every week and the number of people working in manufacturing has collapsed to an all-time low.

'The manufacturing sector is suffering from the deepest and most prolonged recession it has experienced for over 20 years. The 10% hike in National Insurance contributions has accelerated further the rate of job losses in industry.'

'Equally we will be acting to restore trust in Britain's battered financial services industry. Gordon Brown's &#xA3;20 billion raid on pension funds has shattered the retirement plans of millions.'

Margaret Parker, leader of the Conservatives on Chester City Council, said: 'We would like to congratulate Stephen O'Brien on his promotion to Shadow Minister for Industry.

'Nine thousand jobs a week are lost in the manufacturing industry, we know Stephen has personal experience in manufacturing, and will understand the need to halt this decline.

'While Chester's economy is largely based on retail, finance and tourism, there are a significant number of people employed in manufacturing, their jobs are vital and we are delighted that the DTI Conservative team will be headed by a Cheshire MP who appreciates this.'

Mr O'Brien lives near Tarporley, within his constituency, and is married to Gemma, who is a nurse.